The 2004 New Year bell will be rung soon. At this key moment of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new, I'm very happy to extend New Year greetings to Chinese people of various ethnic groups, including our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as all overseas Chinese people, and friends from various countries in a message broadcast by China Radio International, China National Radio and China Central Television.

The year 2003 was an unusual one for the Chinese people. This year, Chinese people of all nationalities, under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents", worked hard, being of one heart and one mind, and overcame numerous hardships and challenges such as the SARS epidemic and many natural disasters, like earthquakes, floods and drought. Meanwhile, the Chinese people also made concerted efforts to continue to push forward the reform and opening up process, to coordinate the development of socialist material civilization, political civilization and spiritual civilization and to maintain relatively speedy economic growth and overall development in all social undertakings. China successfully launched its first manned spacecraft. At the Third Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, a comprehensive planning for perfecting the socialist market economic system was begun. In today's China, enthusiasm for reform and construction abounds everywhere and people of all nationalities have high aspirations for creating a bright future.

In the past year, China adhered to its independent foreign policy of peace, holding high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, and supported the principle of building friendly relationships and partnerships with its neighbors. Under its all-directional foreign policy, China further developed friendships with all countries, particularly neighboring countries and a host of developing countries. China actively participated in global and regional cooperation, played a constructive role in solving a series of major international issues concerning regional security and development and made a contribution to safeguarding world peace and securing common development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends:

The year 2004 is the key time for Chinese people to continue to carry out the spirit of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and realize the tenth Five-year Plan. We shall continue to make economic construction the central task and stick to the pursuit of comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development. We will continue to deepen reforms; open wider to the outside world; and maintain steady, rapid, coordinated and healthy development of the national economy. We shall improve our social undertakings in a comprehensive manner and continue making efforts to push forward the building of a well-off society in an all-round way and to open a new chapter for a socialist cause with Chinese characteristics.

We shall continue to steadfastly implement the policy of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong People governing Hong Kong, Macao People governing Macao and a high degree of autonomy. We shall handle things in strict conformity with the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the Basic Law of Macao and support the governments of Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions to govern according to law. The Chinese mainland shall strengthen economic and trade ties with Hong Kong and Macao to help maintain long-term prosperity and stability there.

Twenty-three million Taiwan compatriots are our brothers and sisters linked by flesh and blood, so we are very much concerned about their interests and happiness. Chinese people will continue to make efforts towards the country's reunification by adhering to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposals for promoting exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and the peaceful reunification. We shall strengthen exchanges between both sides of the Taiwan Straits as well as exchanges in the fields of economics and culture. We shall try our best in all sincerity to realize the peaceful reunification of our motherland. We firmly oppose Taiwan's separatist activities in any form. Any attempts by anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland will not be tolerated. We firmly believe that with common efforts made by all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots, the complete reunification of our motherland can be achieved at an early date.

In the present world, the appearance of political trends toward multi-polarity and economic globalization, and scientific and technological progress have brought people of all countries new opportunities for development. However, unilateralism has shown up; regional conflicts rise one after another; the danger of terrorism is escalating; the world economy is growing slowly; the gap between the development in the South and North becomes wider and wider. All these things pose strong challenges to people in every nation. Chinese people have always been concerned about and have a lot of sympathy for those people, who are living in the flames of war, and suffering from hunger and poverty. Chinese people wish wholeheartedly they would live happy and peaceful lives at an early date and China is willing to offer aid within our capabilities.

The world needs peace; people need cooperation; countries need development and societies need progress. This is the irreversible trend in time. We firmly believe the human race will enjoy a bright future of development. Whatever changes there are in the international arena, China will persistently stand by the just cause of mankind, work with people of other nations to promote the glorious cause of peace and development and create a shining future for world peace and prosperity.

Finally, I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year.